Baucus: Public Option Still on the Table

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

5358295Any number of health care proposals could end up in Congress' final health care bill, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said Monday, including a government-run health care plan, or "public option."

"There are various versions of public option being bandied about," Baucus said on a conference call with reporters. "The long and short of it is, this issue is alive."

While the health care bill Baucus produced as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee did not include a public option, Baucus said Democrats in the Senate are deliberating over a number of different public option proposals, ranging from "Medicare-light," to an option that would put the government on an "even playing field" with private insurers, to a government plan that states could opt in or opt out of.

Health Care Progress Report: October 19
Unplugged: Is A Public Option Off The Table?

"I want any mechanism which keeps the health insurance industry's feet to the fire," Baucus said. He added, "The major goal is to get health care reform that passes the Senate."

Baucus said that Republicans and other Democrats will have opportunities to add other amendments on the Senate floor and that he expects someone to introduce an amendment regarding medical malpractice reform.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by chrisg1950 October 20, 2009 7:06 PM EDT: In reality single payer IS the only way to get EVERYONE in the system. Young people currently pay Social Security deductions to qualify them for retirement. They must understand that it's for the common good. Heck if they break a leg today, they can get it fixed without having to pay through the nose. Insurance is mercenary - we are not automobiles for God's sake. End the lunacy of a private corporation telling me what I can have done. Their profits are obscene and have no business in medical decisions. My doctor is paid to do that....period.; Reply to this comment


by stn_sage October 19, 2009 10:31 PM EDT: Baucus and Pelosi go back and forth like a ping-pong ball...for it, then against it...depending upon release of a new poll that shows the Dems are going to get punished in 2010 if they FAIL to keep their word and include it!

So, frankly, what they say NOW...is unimportant!

We will see in the end what they DO, and if they fail, they'll be voted out!; Reply to this comment


by sjc_1 October 19, 2009 10:14 PM EDT: A Public Option will take people that the insurance companies refuse to take now. If the insurance companies can not deny coverage to them, then they will have to set the premiums for those people high. The Public Option will keep the premiums that insurance companies charge lower overall by insuring those people.; Reply to this comment

by bc-1948 October 19, 2009 7:28 PM EDT

Without it, there is no control on costs... just a big government subsidy to the insurance companies - who will be able to continue to raise their rates at whatever they choose to do. To bad we don't have enough Senators with the guts to get it done.

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by endurorob_5 October 20, 2009 7:34 AM EDT: With it there is still no control on costs. Medical costs will continue to rise and the tax payer will continue to pay for non tax payers. The only thing that the public option will do is drive out private insurance and lead to eventual single payer which is what the dems want because that means the government is taking care of you and that leads to votes for the dems. The dems want all to be behoding to them.